The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-29
EDITORIAL 8ricts.
BY REV. I. M. ATWOOD, D. D.
Canton, n. Y.

request for our criticism" We read
the volume with strong feeling of dis
sent. Correspondence and interviews
with the author persuaded us that the
dlscOurses were prepared and published
with good intent. A re-exHminBtion Of
them, however, III nowise modified our
unfavorable opinion. We regard the
publication of such book by Uuivers-
alist clergymen as unfortunate. 1t is not
creditable to his scholarship nor to his
religious feeling. Whether he meant it
or not, the tone of the book is flippant
and irreverent. 1t travesties Christian
ity. Such preaching may make the un.
unthinking laugh, but it is well ad ped
to make the judicious grieve. There is, of
course, something in each sermon and
much in the volume with which we have
10 controversy. But the interpreta-
tons " invite criticism at every point.
Divide and conquer, appears to be
the motto of the Free Religious Associa-
ton. But the original strategy Of the
generals of that body chooses rather to
divide their own forces than those Of the
enemy. The greatest number that free
religion has ever been able to muster
would not have presented a formidable,
front to even the smallest division of the
smallest sect of Christians. 1t seemed
desirable that they should keep that front
unbroken. But they have split it once
and again. Now they are divided on the
question whether Unity, the organ of the
radical Unitarians in the West, or the
Open Court, the organ of the agnoetics
in the. East, shall inherit the " good viii 3"
of the expiring Idder. The contention is
very sharp between the factions. To ont
siders it is interesting, mainly as showing
the tendency Of remnants to become mere
ravelings.
-" Progressive Orthodoxy" is traces
by Prof Scott, of the Chicago Theolog-
lcal Seminary, to the stream of theo-
logical tendency that started with Scblei-
eTmacher, and was continued in England
by Coleridge, Erskine, Maurice, Kings
ley, Robertson. He does not mention
Bushnell, but the great Hartford theo-
logian is the true ancestor of Progress
slve Orthodoxy. Prof. Scott finds much
to approve in the spirit of this movement
Of i,l rellglons opinion and he is. Disposal 10
! think well Of some OF the ideas that he
discovers in the solution. But "the
whole drift of this system of theological
speculation is rather toward negation,
mere theistic conceptions and Latitudi-
narianlsm, than toward greater zeal, more
holiness and wider Christian activity"
This may be taken as Pref. Scott's opin-
ion of it; but It seems to us that he fore
closes by an a prjori dictum one question
at issue, aud entirely ignores another.
viz, the truth of % this system"
The Christian Union says: Uni
versaliem has been without revival OF
missionary spirit, not because it has had
larger hope for the future, but because
that hope has been based on false views
OF sin In the present" We do not take
the meaning of our esteemed coutem-
porary. Universalism has not been will.
ont revival or missionary spirit. It has,
and has had, both; not in sufficient meas
are, but III q measure so marked thas
We marvel the well-informed Christian
Union should be ignorant OF the fact.
And how is our hope for the future
based on false views of sin in the pres
ent?" Had our esteemed contemporary
any distinct idea in mind when indit-
ing these words, or was it a rhetorical
flourish? We respectfully call for expla-
nation and specification.
A society or Central Committee"
exists in the State OF New York for "Pro-
tecting and Perpetuating the Separation
of Church aud State" It's secretary,
Charles NJ. Plumb, has issued a report in
which the purposes Of the Committee, its
previous work and its position, are stated
with force. Whether such an orgauiza-
ton is called fer in the present condition
Of public sentiment on the snbject, IN this
country, seems to US doubtful The
society for putting God into the Consti-
tuition" did not receive the support OF q
1.-THE of even the clergy of the land. The
aggreesions of the Roman Catholics, in
some quarters, are more than balanced
by the command Of the Pontiff that
parochial schools be established in con
necton with each church. 1t looks as if
this matter were in q fair way to take care
Of itself
The sympathy of the public even Of
that public which reads and relishes
seandsl-will be with Mrs. Terry in her
suit against the New York World Ii
might have been true in whole or in part.
that Mrs. Terry came up from low life t.
be the wife oi a millionaire, as the highly
sensational story OF her career printed ia
the World represented; bat what business
had newspaper to 90 into her past life.
rake up every scandal connected with le-
name, and spread it before the world.
almost before the grave had closed oye-
her husbaud2 Is this what newspapers
are for? If exemplary damages" should
be awarded in a few suits like this if
might convince some Of our most "enter-
prising" papers, that indecent journalism
implies Dprils as well as profits